Another "Grandpa Project"!

HEEEEEEERE'S EMMA!

Uncle Josh's Art Project

Uncle Josh is at it again. This is his current work in progress. Keep it up, Josh!

We Had a Picnic Sunday Night....

Twenty three people! Home Connection plus a few extras. We sure had a good time. Just wish some of YOU - our family - could have been here with us! Hope you had something special to do over the holiday....

What Did Grandpa Do on Saturday Afternoon?

We're going to collect RAIN WATER!
We'll water our flowers and plants, wash the car,
and use it to clean up after outdoor projects!
What ELSE could we use rain water for????

NEW SIDEWALKS--DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR SKATES (and kneepads)!

Won't we have fun?!

OUR NEW TRUCK BORDER

If you click on these pictures,
you'll see our truck border up closer.
I think they're waiting
for some boys and girls to play with them!

Look What's New at 202 Shady Lane!

Click on the pictures to make them bigger....

Little Robin Redbreast
Little Robin Redbreast
Sat upon a rail;
Niddle, naddle, went his head,
Wiggle, waggle, went his tail.


A Robin
I wonder how a robin hears?
I never yet have seen his ears.
But I have seen him tip his head.
And pull a worm right out of bed.

More Robin

We have a secret, just we three
The robin and I and the sweet cherry tree.
The bird told the tree and the tree told me
And nobody knows it but just we three. . .

It's WET in Indiana!

Do you have any of these in YOUR yard or have you seen them in the parks or lawns around you? They are mushrooms. But not the kind you eat! These were growing in the garden beside our garage. I think they grow when there is a lot of rain. And we have had a LOT of rain in Indiana! There is another picture of mushrooms at Scene in our Garden.

Abby & Titus went to the Museum!

Whose mouth is open wider - Titus' or the dinosaur's?

Where Grace Lives

A significant excerpt from "Tender Mercy for a Mother's Soul" by Angela Thomas...

How to Know Where Grace Lives

~ All the neighborhood kids want to hang out at the house where grace lives. There is more dirt to be swept, there are more snacks to be made, and the grass doesn't grow outside the back door or under the swing. But the kids show up, hang out, and get loved where grace lives

~ There is always enough for one more where grace lives....one more for dinner....one more to sleep over....one more hug....one more kiss.

~The dust may be a little thicker on top of the TV, and the closets a bit cluttered, but hearts have been tended where grace lives. Family management has become the tool instead of the goal. Schedules matter, but souls matter more.

~The lights are on late where grace lives. Grace stays up to listen, hug in the dark, and wipe away tears of disappointment and pain.

~ You can see people dancing where grace lives, because moms hang up the phone, turn up the music, and dance over victories of their children. Sometimes the children just watch from behind their cereal and "catch" the grace of a silly mom.

~You can hear things like, "Please forgive me, I was wrong....I'm disappointed, but I love you...You are my treasure...You are a blessing...let me pray for you."

~ The eyes of the children where grace lives shine with joy and anticipation. They have not been wounded by impossible expectations. They have not been distanced by rejection. They have been embraced and accepted and loved.

~ The moms at the house where grace lives are just regular, everyday moms, but God lives inside them. By His power, they are becoming holy and righteous and good. They stumble but recover quickly. They make mistakes but say, "I'm sorry." They get blown by the winds of heartache and adversity, but their hearts remain tender toward God.

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O, Lord, please let OUR homes be full of grace and God's love!

Look What Bloomed in our Garden!

You can see some more PLUS Grandma's new turtles and ladybug at Scene in our Garden.

SCENES FROM our MOTHERS' DAY

We went to Grandpa & Grandma Z's house. Aunt Suzie and Stephanie went with us. After dinner we played Mexican Train and Sevens. Grandpa Z kept score. (Can you see the finger he injured when he worked at camp several years ago???) On the way home, we saw this rainbow. Stephanie used my cell phone to take this beautiful picture while the car was moving at 55 MPH!

THE FINISHED PROJECT

Grandpa put the finishing touches on the shelf he made for Caden and Carson to arrange their baseball helmets on! Doesn't it look great?

Happy Anniversary

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son,
be with you in truth and love. 2 John 3

Love you guys! Dad and Mom

CREATURES IN OUR YARD!

The Gates' Guys in Church Program

Here we are! All of us!

Train Up a Child....

I recently read of a young mom (sahmissionary.blogspot.com) whose children have a personal quiet time when they get up in the morning. These are HER words.....

I was first inspired to implement this in our home through the book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper (John Piper's wife). She says this on the topic:

"It takes only a few seconds of thought to realize that it is smarter to get a three-year-old started with good lifetime habits than to spring a new regimen on a teenager. One old saying is, 'As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.' Wise Solomon said with the authority of Scripture: 'Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it' (Proverbs 22:6). Why would we wait to train up our children in this essential discipline? Do we think younger children don't yet need time alone with God?"

My goal and purpose in encouraging my children to have regular quiet times with God is to facilitate my children actually learning, hearing, and knowing God for themselves in an intimate way. I never make it a legalistic thing, but rather, and exciting time for them to spend alone with God. I think so much of how our children look at things depends on our attitudes toward whatever the activity is. If I am forcing my children to read their Bibles and pray, chances are, they won't enjoy it and will grow to resent me. However, if I approach it with an attitude full of awe and wonder, they soon catch the vision and join in seamlessly.

So, what do they do for their quiet times? Britton (8) and Hannah (6) are both independent readers. They sit down for about 15-20 minutes each morning and read Scripture from a regular NIV Bible. They have read Genesis and are now starting on Matthew. They also have a journal to jot down what they learned, draw a picture, write a prayer, or whatever they wish to do on that day.

In the above mentioned book, Noel Piper suggests getting the Bible on CD for non-readers to listen to during a "morning quiet time". I admit that Hudson (4) would probably love this, but I have not yet implemented this idea. When I do, I will likely use the Your Story Hour tapes, as we already have them (you can download them at Audible.com

OK....this is Grandma writing again.....I think this is a stellar plan - one that I would be blessed to hear my grandchildren are experiencing.

TONGUE TWISTER

Can you do this? Say "ape cakes, grape cakes" fast - three times!

Some Views from the "County Fair"

 

Looks Like Titus was a Winner!

 

Abby in the Air! Was it Scary, Abby?

 

BRENTON & AMBER RUN MINI-MARATHON!

Over 40,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes hit the course Saturday morning for the 33rd running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.

Brenton and Amber were two of those 40,000! Congratulations on completing this run, you two!

The 13.1-mile Mini-Marathon course stretched from downtown Indianapolis to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (see top picture) and back. Participants started on Washington Street and took White River Pkwy W. Drive to Michigan Street out of downtown, to Holt Road, to 10th Street and to Main Street in Speedway. Turning on 16th Street, they entered IMS at Gate 2 (the Speedway’s main entrance) and completed one full 2.5-mile lap around the track. Exiting the track at Crossover 5 (behind the turn 2 suites), participants then ran south on Cagle Street to 16th Street, to Olin, back to 10th Street. There they returned to White River Pkwy W Drive to New York Street for the Victory Mile and finished just east of Blackford Street on New York Street.